Lee Reid Grants Fund
In 1993 a grant fund was established for conferees needing financial assistance to attend LOAS conferences. In October 1997, the program was named the Lee Reid Grant Fund in honor of Rev. Lee Reid, a beloved LOAS conferee who passed away that year. Each year the LOAS conferences hold auctions on island to raise money for the grant fund. Conferees can also make direct donations to the fund.
FAQs
How much support do grants provide?
1
Grants provide partial payment toward the cost of room and board. The maximum grant is in the range of 50-60% of total costs. Funds are allocated using an adjusted gross income calculation that accounts for household size and banding dependent on income. Grants do not cover the LOAS program fee nor do they cover parking or travel costs.
Who can apply for a grant?
2
Anyone registered for a LOAS conference can apply for a grant. LOAS actively encourages those who are considering attending a LOAS conference to apply for a financial grant, especially if a trip to Star Island would be their one big annual trip. New as well as returning LOAS conferees are encouraged to apply. There is no limit on how many years you can apply for a grant.
What room size/type do grants support?
3
Grants are based on double room rate. If you require a single room or motel unit, your bill will reflect the actual charges for the room you occupy.
Do I need to complete separate applications for Star Island’s Grant program and the Lee Reid Grant Program?
4
No, you don’t need to complete separate applications. There is a unified application process for both grant programs. The Star Island Corporation grant committee and the Lee Reid Grant Committee both consider applications and awards are given jointly.
Do I need to pay the deposit and LOAS program fee before i find out if I’ve gotten a grant?
5
We ask that everyone applying for a grant register for LOAS 1 or LOAS 2 prior to submitting their grant application — this ensures that you have a place in the conference. Paying the room deposit and the LOAS program fees are a part of the registration process. If paying the deposit and program fee prior to notification about grant support would pose a financial hardship, please contact the island registrar at registrar@starisland.org to make an arrangement to register.
The room deposit and LOAS program fee are fully refundable up to 4 weeks prior to the start of the conference.
Where can i find out more information about financial aid?
6
More information about Financial Grants at Star Island can be found on the Star Island website.
Questions can be sent to:
Lee Reid Grants Committee Chair
Registrar for LOAS 1
Registrar for LOAS 2
How to Apply
Register for a LOAS conference
Complete the Financial Grant Application Form available on the Star Island website before April 15
The Reverend Lee Reid
(1932-1996)
Lee Reid was a warm and vivacious woman with long red hair who had a deep and abiding affection for Star Island.
Lee was introduced to Unitarian Universalism by her good friends, Aaron and Sally Hamburger. She felt called to the ministry and, in her 50s, entered New York Theological Seminary. This Seminary is racially and religiously diverse and just what she wanted. Lee graduated at the top of her class with the distinction of being “best in preaching.”
In 1988, she was appointed by the UUA Extension Division to organize a new congregation dedicated to becoming an intentionally diverse congregation. In 1995, she was called to be the first minister of the UU Congregation of the Palisades. When they were told they weren’t “black” enough to receive a second grant, they hired a bus and presented themselves in Boston to UUA president, William Schulz. “Look at us and tell us we are not diverse enough!” They got the grant.
Lee and her husband, Wally, loved Star Island. They were chairs of LOAS 2 in 1978. Lee was a night owl and you could find her engaged in conversation in the snack bar late into the evening. She was often called upon to be the fortune teller at the Children’s Carnival. You could also find Lee copiously taking notes during theme talk. She was creative and funny and she turned these notes into skits for the Talent Show. The Sandpiper Room is named in Lee and Wally’s honor.
Star was Lee’s spirit’s home and she said she came to LOAS every summer to renew and gain spiritual grounding for the congregational year ahead. Tragically, Lee was struck by a car on a November night in 1996 as she was hurrying to a Board meeting. She died a few days later. Her beautiful spirit lives on in the beauty of Star Island.
The Committee
The Grant Committee consists of three individuals serving 3-year terms. Each year one member rotates off, and a new person is elected to serve on the grant committee. The committee has a budget of approximately $16,000 to assist applicants from both LOAS conferences. The committee strives to distribute the available funds as equitably as possible taking into consideration the whole group of applicants as well as individual needs.